Dallas-Fort Worth rummages through ruins after tornadoes

3/33

Kye R. Lee/Staff Photographer

Collin Lawrence, 18, remembers yesterday's Tornado swiping his home in the 2800 block of Quail Ln in Arlington, TX. Lawrence said that he and his brother covered their mother in the bathtub when they realized their power was out and the house began shaking. He says that he can not remember anything but he prayed so hard and adds that his prayer worked for the family. After the tornado, he realized that the bathroom was the only place not destroyed by the tornado.

Thousands of Dallas-Fort Worth residents got to work Wednesday cleaning up from the worst tornado outbreak in memory.

They assessed homes and vehicles that were damaged or destroyed. They collected cherished belongings and mourned missing pets. But at least, some remarked, no one had to mourn a lost loved one. Miraculously, no one was killed despite at least 11 tornadoes that ripped through the area Tuesday.

The hardest-hit areas were Lancaster, Arlington, Forney and an area of southern Dallas near Hutchins. Comprehensive damage estimates were not available Wednesday, but the human toll was clearly evident as storm victims dealt with losses — family photos, favorite clothes, souvenirs, furniture passed from one generation to the next.

State Farm Insurance, for example, reported receiving 959 homeowner claims and 3,473 auto claims by morning. Rental car agencies near the damaged areas ran out of cars by 9 a.m.

Gov. Rick Perry was scheduled to tour the damaged areas by helicopter Thursday morning and then hold a news conference to discuss state and federal aid that might be available to stricken communities.

“We’re thankful that there’s been no reported loss of life … but we know there are a lot of North Texans who are digging out of rubble and seeing lifetime possessions lost to these storms,” Perry said Wednesday.

Volunteers sprang into action to help the storm victims. Some traded stories about how they survived in bathrooms and closets. Others watched unbelievable video of debris — complete trailers from 18-wheelers, for example — sailing through darkened skies during the tornado.

Bill Gresso and a team of relief workers from the Southern Baptist Convention showed up at the Lancaster recreation center, where victims gathered for temporary shelter and meals. They cooked a lunch of grilled chicken and green beans.

“I just want to serve the Lord,” said Gresso, a retired Garland resident. “I tell people I can’t preach, but I can cook.”

Large-scale effort

The storms damaged or destroyed an estimated 430 houses in Arlington. Officials said a single tornado bounced along U.S. Highway 287, across Interstate 20 and up Green Oaks Boulevard. Seven people were injured.

Storm victims, private contractors, police officers and firefighters worked side by side with volunteers to clean up and make safe neighborhoods devastated by winds of up to 135 mph.

“That’s really our job here today is to get the neighborhoods back into shape and to help the citizens recover,” Arlington Fire Chief Don Crowson said.

At the Chesterfield Apartments, just off U.S. 287, workers had cleared away much of the debris by Wednesday afternoon. But cars remained tossed atop each other in the parking lot.

Mazie Newberry, the apartment manager, said the twister wiped out some units in her 11-building complex and left others untouched.

“All of the metal carports are gone,” she said.

Dawanna Cooper said her apartment was badly damaged. After the storm, police told her to leave and not come back until further notice. She didn’t know where she would spend Wednesday night.

“I don’t know what the plan is,” she said. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

Safety first

In Lancaster, a town of 37,000 in southern Dallas County, a steady stream of volunteers arrived at the city library Wednesday morning to sign up for work duty.

Police sealed off damaged neighborhoods to prevent looting and to prevent sightseers from getting injured by things such as downed power lines.

“We have to make sure safety is the first order,” Mayor Marcus Knight said. “We realize it’s an emotional time, but we have a system and strategy in place.”

But there were problems. Some residents didn’t understand why they were not allowed back into their homes. Dorcus Dupree worried about the two Rottweilers stuck in her garage without food or water.

“I’m really attached to my animals, and they’re really attached to me,” she said. “I’m worried to death about them.”

Lancaster officials said the storms damaged about 300 structures. Just over 200 people checked into the Lancaster Recreation Center’s emergency shelter, and about 15 people spent Tuesday night there.

Going door-to-door

In Forney, a Kaufman County community of 15,000, emergency personnel continued to conduct a door-to-door survey in the Diamond Creek subdivision to check on people and help clear dangerous debris.

The National Weather Service estimated that the Forney tornado packed 150 mph winds. Officials there counted 95 homes damaged and 22 destroyed. But only seven people were hurt — all minor injuries.

Crosby Elementary School took a direct hit from the tornado. It remained closed Wednesday, its roof a shambles. None of the students, staff or parents hunkered inside suffered serious injuries.

Nearby, Bill Hedges and his family spent all morning cleaning up their house on Pecan Ridge Drive. The windows were shattered, and his roof is only half there.

“I feel fortunate to have any roof,” he said. “Some people don’t even have that.”

To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.